JBL Under Armour Sport Wireless Heart Rate In-Ear Headphones Review

Summary:

The built-in heart rate sensor on these earbuds is virtually on par with my chest strap-based heart rate monitor. However, sound quality is average and these earbuds can become slightly uncomfortable when worn for long periods.

Many fitness trackers, such as the Apple Watch and FitBit HR, are integrating heart rate monitors. Unfortunately, arm heart rate monitors can crap out as soon as you start doing strength training exercises. JBL teamed up with Under Armour to bring you a more accurate heart rate monitor you wear on your ear.

PROs

Workout-friendly remote: I was initially worried that the in-line remote on the wire would be flopping around and hitting me in the face while I worked out. But, surprisingly, it stays behind my ear and out of the way, even when doing burpees. The remote allows you to conveniently adjust the volume, change the track, play/pause your music and answer phone calls.

Sound quality: The sound quality is very good on these earbuds. Bass is light, but music is clear and not distorted.

Heartbeat sensor: I like that these track my heart rate without needing to wear an uncomfortable chest strap. Whenever I do pull-ups or push-ups, my Apple Watch’s heart rate sensor sometimes stops work or shows a very low reading, but that was not an issue with these earbuds. They do not seem to be affected by arm movements like the Apple Watch (and many other optical sensors). I compared the readings with my chest strap and found the numbers from the JBL earbuds to be very close. The heart rate worked with my Under Armour Record, MapMyRun and RunKeeper apps.

Bluetooth range: The range is very good on these earbuds. In an open gym, I was able to work fairly far away (20-30 ft) with minimal interruptions.

CONs

Comfort: The ear hooks (that go over top of your ear) are fairly stiff, and my ear felt a little achy after wearing these earbuds for more than an hour.

Seals out sound: The earbuds seal into your ear canal and blocks outside sounds. I would prefer some sound to come in for when I’m running outside, for example. Also, when talking on the phone with these in, to me my voice sounds like I’m underwater.

Overall, these earbuds work very well and the built-in heart rate sensor is very convenient. The earbuds stay in place and produce great sound, but they can get a little uncomfortable over long periods.